Shloka 41
Vidura-nīti: Atithi-dharma, Trust, Counsel-Secrecy, and Traits of Sustainable Rule
Udyoga Parva, Adhyāya 38
मत्या परीक्ष्य मेधावी बुद्धया सम्पाद्य चासकृत् । श्र॒ुत्वा दृष्टवाथ विज्ञाय प्राज्ञैमैत्रीं समाचरेत्,बुद्धिमान् पुरुष बुद्धिसे जाँचकर अपने अनुभवसे बारंबार उनकी योग्यताका निश्चय करे; फिर दूसरोंसे सुनकर और स्वयं देखकर भलीभाँति विचार करके विद्वानोंके साथ मित्रता करे
matyā parīkṣya medhāvī buddhyā sampādya cāsakṛt | śrutvā dṛṣṭvātha vijñāya prājñair maitrīṃ samācaret ||
Vidura khuyên rằng: Người thật sự thông tuệ phải dùng sự phán xét cẩn trọng để thử người, và qua nhiều lần suy xét mà xác định rõ giá trị của họ. Rồi sau đó—nghe lời truyền đáng tin, tự mình quan sát, và suy nghiệm cho ra lẽ thật—hãy kết giao bằng hữu với bậc hiền trí.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Friendship should be formed only after careful, repeated examination of a person’s character—using reason, trustworthy testimony, and one’s own observation—and it should be directed toward the wise (prājña), since companionship shapes one’s dharma and conduct.
In Udyoga Parva, Vidura is giving moral-political counsel during the tense pre-war negotiations. Here he lays down a principle of prudent association: verify people through thought, inquiry, and direct experience, and then align oneself with discerning, virtuous companions.